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Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, which has amplified the unique role philanthropy can play in addressing issues at the local level, community foundations and other place-based funders were developing their civic leadership through a variety of efforts to organize and support their communities.
According to 2019 research by CF Leads, 98% of community foundations surveyed said they intend to deepen and expand their community leadership efforts in the next few years. The Community Foundation Public Awareness Initiative reports US community foundation efforts in 2020 to help those impacted by COVID-19 have mobilized more than $1 billion to support on-the-ground efforts by nonprofits. The Center for Effective Philanthropy finds nearly all of the community foundations surveyed in 2020 indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted them to listen and work differently and more collaboratively to meet the needs of those in the community.
One such community-driven approach is referred to as “inclusive growth,” which aims to foster economic development by by addressing inequities and broadly raising the economic prospects and well-being of a community.
A February 2021 article The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI) wrote for The Foundation Review highlights the strategy and leadership of Massachusetts’ Essex County Community Foundation in fostering inclusive economic growth across Essex County’s diverse population. Similarly, in nearby Chelsea, Massachusetts, a new initiative of the Boston Foundation – Chelsea 2021 – is building a donor and community collaborative to support inclusive economic recovery during and after the pandemic. While these efforts approach community and coalition building differently – with ECCF initially focused on the economic sector and Chelsea 2021 focused on donor and community engagement – both illustrate the powerful, varied roles that community foundations in particular can play in organizing, supporting, and catalyzing inclusive growth. These roles capitalize on the strengths of community foundations as local leaders, convenors, and connectors.
Thanks to Stratton Lloyd (Chief Operating Officer and Vice President for Community Leadership, Essex County Community Foundation), and Kate Guedj (Senior Vice President, the Boston Foundation) for their thoughtful contributions and review.